Is Michael Mayer The Next Gronk?

Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer has had NFL eyes on him for years, and now that he has declared, we can finally take the deep, deep, dive on him.

There have been many that have referred to the star tight end as the next Rob Gronkowski, some even dubbing him the nickname “Baby Gronk”. While Mayer is poised to make an instant impact at the next level, I just don’t feel the comparison is fair for him.

For one, Gronk was another specimen. His dominance in every facet of the game was unparalleled for the position. Mayer just isn’t as physically dominant as Gronkowski was. While they are similar in size, Gronk had that relentless edge to him that Mayer doesn’t have, at least right now.

To better understand what Mayer has to offer, I will do a dive on this blue-chipper. We will begin with his high school days.

Bio

Mayer has been well-known since he was in high school at Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills Kentucky. As a recruit, Mayer was widely regarded as the second-best tight end in the 2020 class, just behind Arik Gilbert, who plays for Georgia.

He won Gatorade Kentucky Football Player of the Year in 2019 prior to entering college. Coming into Notre Dame as a five-star, he made an immediate impact for the Irish, hauling in 42 catches for 450 yards and two touchdowns.

Over the next two seasons, 2021 and 2022, Mayer recorded a combined 138 receptions for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. His high-level play in college earned him an Associated Press (AP) Third-Team selection in 2021. It is yet to be seen what he else he will be earning from the AP as of this writing.

Strengths

Mayer is a super well-rounded prospect.

He does everything at an average-elite level. This starts with the best part of his game, his ability to make an impact in the passing game. The Notre Dame star works effectively as both a quarterback’s security blanket and as an actual vertical downfield threat (8 catches for 210 yards on passes 20+ yards down field, top in FBS).

Mayer is a high-IQ player, who always knows his blocking assignments, routes, and he knows where he should be as a receiver. One of the most compelling parts of Mayer’s game as a receiver is his phenomenal ball skills and strong hands.

He’s very good at high-pointing the ball, making sure he’s the only one that can and will come down with it. As a blocker, he’s certainly willing and understands who he needs to block, which is enough for the next level.

Weaknesses

As I said before, Mayer is very well-rounded. There’s not much to be upset about in terms of his game. Perhaps his athleticism, or lack thereof, is the most concerning part of him as a football player.

He isn’t above average in terms of speed, size, or explosiveness. He’s actually very average, standing around 6’5″, 250 pounds, while running most likely around a 4.7 40-yard dash.

The only other small issue is that, again, he’s not a great blocker. He’s fine at it, but he has room to get better. It’s not a huge part of his game currently.

Summary

Michael Mayer is one of the most sure-fire prospects in this draft.

He will more than likely be the only tight end chosen in round one and could certainly go within the top 10.

His ability to haul in almost anything that comes his way, along with having a nose for the end zone, expect Mayer to get acclimated to the NFL fairly quickly, making an immediate impact anywhere he goes.

The numbers, the projection and the game film reviewed

#87 Michael Mayer 6-foot-4.5, 265 pounds

Brandon Martinez’s Grade: First Round (Mid)

2021 game film reviewed: Virginia

2022 game film reviewed: Ohio State, USC

2021 stats: 12 games, 71 catches, 840 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns

2022 stats: 12 games, 67 catches, 809 receiving yards, 9 touchdowns

Brandon Martinez is a contributor for The Landry Hat and First Round Mock, and currently attends Purdue University. He has also previously contributed to Spartan Avenue and was the site expert for Gig ’em Gazette. He can be followed on Twitter @BrandonA_MTZ.